Highclere Castle, the main filming location for Downton Abbey.

Literature, film and TV

Many of our famous writers have been inspired by the drama of the landscape. Wordsworth loved the light on a Cumbrian lake. The wildness of the Yorkshire Moors compelled Emily Bronte to write Wuthering Heights. The misty marshlands of Kent feature in many of Charles Dickens’ novels, and the rural idylls of Dorset were beloved by Thomas Hardy. But if writing a great English novel is not on your agenda, visit one of the many stately homes which are regularly used for film locations and TV locations. Make your own costume drama at houses like Highclere Castle, the setting of the fictional Downton Abbey.

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Enjoy splendiferous fun at the Roald Dahl Museum

Ever wondered where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory started? This family-friendly museum has answers for children and adults of all ages.

Location: Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire

 

Visit the home of the WWII codebreakers at Bletchley Park

Once Britain’s best kept secret, this major visitor attraction was also the filming location for The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

Location: Bletchley, Milton Keynes

 

Midsomer Murders in the Chiltern Hills

Recognisable by many Midsomer Murders fans, The Stag and Huntsman is located in the beautiful village of Hambleden.

Location: Hambleden, Buckinghamshire

 

Rainy Day Activities: Enter the magical Warner Bros Studio Tour

Step inside the wizarding world of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and feel the films magically come to life.

Location: Leavesden, Hertfordshire

 

Visit the dramatic landscape that inspired John Constable

Follow in the footsteps of John Constable and explore Dedham Vale and Stour Valley an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Location: Dedham, Colchester

 

Discover Jane Austen’s legacy in Hampshire

Celebrate Jane Austen at the Jane Austen Regency Festival in June and visit her much loved home in Hampshire and the countryside that inspired her.

Location: Alton, Hampshire

 

Discover Charles Dickens’ Broadstairs

Go to the quaint part of Kent that was inspiration to novelist Charles Dickens and drew him to return time and time again.

Location: Broadstairs, Kent

 

June events: Step back in time at Broadstairs Dickens Festival

The usually quiet coastal town Broadstairs comes to life to celebrate the life of Dickens at this week-long, eclectic festival.

Location: Broadstairs, Kent

 

Explore the Midsomer Murders locations

Follow in the footsteps of Inspector Barnaby as you explore Causton, Midsomer Newton and more on the trail of the Midsomer Murders locations.

Location: Wallingford, Oxfordshire

 

How did the leopard get his spots? Visit Rudyard Kipling’s home

Explore Bateman's, the 17th century home of the Jungle Book and The Just So Stories author, nestled in the leafy Sussex Weald.

Location: Burwash, East Sussex

 

Visit the "most popular filming location in the world" in Greenwich, London

Explore the magnificent buildings of the Old Royal Naval College - a film set for major blockbusters including Les Misérables and Cinderella.

Location: Greenwich, London

 

Investigate the origins of Sherlock Holmes at Portsmouth Museum

Discover more about the creator of the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes at Portsmouth Museum.

Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

 

Celebrate Portsmouth's literary heritage at BookFest

Meet some of the UK's most beloved authors in an annual literary festival for the whole family.

Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

 

Take a Notting Hill Walking Tour

Walk in the footsteps of the rich and famous.

Location: London, Greater London

 

Discover the real Downton Abbey

Re-enact your favourite scenes from the much-loved period drama at Highclere Castle before retiring to London Lodge, a Georgian Grade II-listed gatehouse on-site.

Location: Highclere, Hampshire

 

Take a London Film Locations Tour

A whizz around London's famous film backdrops, visiting around 40 different locations.

Location: London, Greater London

 

Retrace the footsteps of John Keats in Winchester

You don’t have to work up a sweat to follow in the footsteps of one of our greatest romantic poets – it’s actually a very pleasant walk!

Location: Winchester, Hampshire

 

Eat and drink by the riverside, at The Trout pub, Wolvercote

Sample local Oxfordshire food at this famously good pub on the banks of the River Thames.

Location: Wolvercote, Oxford

 

Lights, camera, Oxford – a screen tour to remember

From Inspector Morse to Harry Potter, don't miss a stop on this trip through Oxford's greatest screen moments.

Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire

 

Uncover the mysterious world of Sherlock Holmes

Spend a day on the trail in London of the world’s most famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his sidekick, Dr Watson.

Location: London

 

Follow in the footsteps of movie makers in Eastbourne

Follow the film location trail from Eastbourne to Beachy Head, featured in cinema classics such as ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Diana’ and ‘Pearl Harbour’.

Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex

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